Summer/Spring Italian Lemonade.

Ingredients.

• 1 bunch fresh basil, washed and stemmed.
• 1 cup granulated monk fruit, stevia or xylitol.
• 1 cup water.
• 2 cup lemon juice, about 12 to 15 lemons.
• 2 cup cold or sparkling water.

1. For the basil simple syrup: In a saucepan, combine basil, 1 cup sweetner (monk fruit), and 1 cup water and simmer until the sugar is dissolved, 5 minutes. Cool, strain, and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
2. For the lemonade: Mix lemon juice, basil simple syrup, and 2 cups cold or sparkling water together in a pitcher. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

 *Note: xylitol may cause bloating and is toxic to animals (dogs). Also, it has a very short afterlife so it is best to use stevia or monk fruit powder.